Nebraska Democrats choose new leader, reject superdelegates

Jane Kleeb was elected at the state party convention over the weekend. Her term as party chair begins in December.

She is the founder of Bold Nebraska and is known for her opposition to the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

In her nominating speech, Kleeb told delegates that she is a Progressive Democrat:

Progressive. A loaded word. It scares people who like things the way they are, with the scales tipped in their favor. But it’s just a word. And at the root of it, is “progress.” Progress is a concept we should all strive for.

Kleeb beat out Chuck Hassebrook, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2014, to be state party chair.

The Nebraska Democratic Party also passed a resolution to disapprove of the national party’s superdelegate process, calling it “undemocratic.”

The state party decided it will refuse in 2020 to send superdelegates to the 2020 National Convention, if the national party does not change its rules.